Telephone-exchange instrument



. (ModeL) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1/ E. T. QUIMBY.

I TELEPHONE EXCHANGE INSTRUMENT. V No. 244,143. Patented July 12,1881.

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ATTORNEYS.

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model.) 3 sheets-sheet 2.

E. T. QUIMBY. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE INSTRUMENT.

No. 244,143. Patented July 12,1881.

WITNESS (M0d e1.) 3Sheets-Sheet-3. E. T. QUIMBY.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE INSTRUMENT. No. 244,143. Patented July-12, 1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIHU T. QUIMBY, OF HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,143, dated July 12, 1881.

Application filed May 31, 1880. (Model.)

To all whom "it may concern Be it known that I, ELIHU T. QUIMBY, of Hanover, in the county of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, have invented new and Improved Telephone-Exchange Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to telephoneswitches for exchange-offiees.

The object of my invention is to construct an exchange-instrument of simple and compact form, by which the required connections can be made by the operation of a single key in each line.

In my instrument the switch-bars connecting with the entering lines are arranged in two series crossing each other preferably at right angles, and are fitted with screwpins, whereby any one bar may be connected with any other to cut out the office telephone when the two lines are connected. Connected with each switch'bar is an annunciator and fingerkey, and each finger-key is fitted for movement in contact with circuit-closing points to make the necessaryconnections required for answering a call, calling a distant instrument, and connecting any two lines through the office telephones. The key is also arranged for connecting a local battery and separate telephone with any particular line without interference with the working of the exchange-instrument.

The construction and operation will be explained more particularly hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the invention pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my telephone-exchange instrument. Fig. 2 is avertical cross-section of the same on line 00 w of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view, showing the key-board and keys. Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the electrical connections of the key-board. Fig. 5 represents the switch-plates of the key-board separately. Figs. 6 to 13 are cross-sections of the keyboard, showing the dift'erent positions of the keys and the connections.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the key-board of the instrument, upon which is fitted a frame, B, that carries the annunciator-magnetsO and the fixed vertical and horizontal cross-bars a. b. The instrument, as sh0wn,isadaptedforfourlines. Consequently there are four magnets G and annunciators, four vertical bars a, four horizontal bars I), and the key-board A is titted with four keys, 0. The vertical bars a are fitted with screw-pins (l at the intersections of the horizontal bars, so that by adjustment of such pins metallic connection may be made or broken between said bars a b.

The annunciator may be of any usual construction for operation by closure of circuit to the magnets G.

The keys 0 each consist of a plate of spring metal, attached by a screw, 0, to a bar, f, of non-conducting material on board A. The set of the spring tends to throw the outer end of the key upward against a stop-plate, 8, that is attached upon the face of cross-bar g, of nonconducting material. This position is the normal one of the keys, and is shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 6. Each key is fitted with a rear portion, 0, that is insulated from the front portion, and moves in connection with plates 1, 2, and 3, that are embedded in board B, the normal position being on the middle plate, 2, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 6. The cross-bar g is also titted with a plate, 4, at the back, and a middle plate, 6.

Upon the board B, beneath the bar g, there are fitted plates 5, 7, and 9. The shapes of these plates 1 to 9 are shown in Fig. 5, and they are so arranged that the key makes separate connection between the plates in each position to which it may be moved, and each key is capable of similar movements. It will therefore be only necessary to describe the operation of one key. The first or normal posi tion (shown in Fig. 6) is with the key in contact with plate 8 at the front and 2 at the back. The second position, Fig. 7, is with the front end of the key moved to the left, which connects plates 2 and 3 at the back and brings the key in contact with front plate 4. The third position, Fig. 8, is with the key moved to the right in contact with plate 4, and back plates 1 and 2 connected. The fourth position, Fig. 9, is with the key pressed down from the normal position into contact with plate 7, and this position is only maintained so long as the key is held down by hand. The fifth position, Fig. 10, is with the key moved to right, while held down to connect front of key beneath the lug on plate 5 and the back of the key in com tact with 2. The sixth position, Fig. 11, is the position of insulation of the key, obtained by moving it to the right to clear the projection of plate 8 and allowing it to spring up against the bar g, leaving the back in contact with 2. The seventh position, Fig. 12, is with the key moved to the left while down, to catch beneath the lug of plate 9, the back connection remainin g normal and the eighth position is with the key moved to left to clear plate 8 and sprung upward in contact with 6, the back connection remaining normal.

The circuit-connections, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, are as follows: The annunciator-magnet 0 of each line connects with its vertical switch-bar a by one pole, and also by a wire from the other pole to the binding-screw t of the line-wire m, from which screw a wire passes to one of the horizontal bars, b. The line-wire m is thus connected both with the magnet and to the bar I). A wire, t", from the bar a passes to the pivot-pin c of key 0. Plate 8 connects by a binding-screw, l, to ground-wire 7c. The current from the line will, by these connections, operate the magnet c. The plate 4 con-V nects with the office receiver n, transmitter 0, and battery, plate 2 with the transmitter, and plate 3 with the battery, and also to ground, so that in the second position the office instruments are brought in connection with the line m. The plate 5 connects with 1, so that by the third position the ground-plate 3 is simply cut out and 5 brought into connection with line on and the office instruments. Plate 7 connects with ground through a signal-bell, 0, so that in the fourth position the circuit is closed by wire 17 to the line. This position is for calling a distant station, and in the proper order of work will be made by a key other than the one used for the first three positions; and by the fifth position the second key and second line are brought in connection with the first line through plate 5 and the office telephones. As soon as this connection is made and the two connected lines are properly working the, proper screw d of the vertical bar a is turned into contact with the horizontal bar, direct connection being thus made and the keys shortcircuited. The keys 0 may be brought to the insulated position, Fig. 11, to cut out the central-office telephones and leave them free for other use. The plate 9 connects with a binding-screw, r, and plate 6 with a binding-screw, 8. These screws r s are to be connected, one with a line to another central office and the other with a second set of telephones, to permit communication between the central office and any station, or with a second central office, without interfering with the ordinary'business. The seventh and eighth positions bring these plates 9 and 6 in connection with the line m. that is required.

The plates 1 to 9 being properly arranged and connected, it will be seen that but few movements are required for answering a call, calling a second station, and connecting the two lines. 7

For convenience, the plugs (I will be numbered with double numbers, the first number indicating the line to which the vertical bar it connects and the second number the number of the line that may be connected by the screw. For instance, key No. 12.will connect the first horizontal to the second vertical bar, or key No. 23 will connect the second horizontal with the third vertical bar, as shown in the drawin gs.

By using the bars a b, as shown, each entering line is bent at right angles and crosses ex'ery other line, so that only a single screw is needed to connect any two lines and all the connections are embraced in a triangle, as shown.

I am aware that bars placed at right angles have been used in telephone-switches; but in these cases two screws are required to connect the lines, and a rectangular frame of bars is required.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. The combination of the lines, doubled or crossed upon themselves at an angle, with a set of connections located at the intersection of the lines, whereby any one line maybe connected to any other by a single connection, and at one point, as described.

2. In telephone-exchange instruments, the key 0, consisting of a spring-bar provided with an insulated back extension, 0, and hung onan insulated pivot, 0, whereby the key is capable of both vertical and horizontal motion,in combination with a key-board fitted with switchplates, and the circuit-wires from the switchplates and the pivot of the key, substantially as shown and described.

3. In telephone-exchange instruments, the key-board B, fitted with the switch-plates 1 to 9, substantially as shown and described,and provided with a key, 0, having a back arm or extension and fitted for vertical and horizontal movement at its-front end, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the two'sets of lines, turned upon themselves, as described,where by the lines are madeto cross each other and give one point where each line crosses each other line, to permit any two to be connected, as described.

ELIHU T. QUIMBY.

Witnesses:

F. CHASE, E. R. RUGGLES.

IIO 

